News

Harriers slam FA proposals

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers have slammed plans to introduce Premier League and Championship B teams which would have a damaging impact on clubs playing in the Football Conference.

An FA commission was set to discuss the proposals, which have been thought up to try and improve young English players, this week.

One idea is to introduce a new division sandwiched between the Football Conference and the Football League.

Another was to merge the B teams with League Two and the Conference to form two regional leagues.

A spokesman from the club said: “These plans fail to realise just how competitive and passionately supported non-league football really is.

“A new league would send out the wrong message, saying that the teams outside of the Football League are not as important and deny teams with aspirations of promotion the chance to do so.

“They also talk about trying to improve the England team, but it is unclear how these plans would do this and fails to recognise the number of homegrown players who began their careers in the Conference.”

Meanwhile, the club’s plans for next season took a step forward with securing of highly-rated centre back Chey Dunkley on a one year deal.

Rookie centre back Tyrone Williams and Nathan Blissett have also be given one-year deals after activating clauses in their contracts. The Reds now have 12 players secured for the 2014-15 campaign.

Dunkley said: “The gaffer’s back, that’s why I have put pen to paper.

“I have always liked working with him and am looking forward to the new season.”

The club have also offered new contracts to Lee Vaughan, Jamie Grimes, Amari Morgan-Smith, Mickey Demetriou, Aman Verma, Nathan Vaughan and Marvin Johnson.

Johnson’s offer was a surprise as the winger had requested to go out on loan soon after Whild had replaced Andy Thorn.

But he impressed for Hednesford, scoring three goals as the Pitmen narrowly missed out on the Conference North play-offs.

Free agents Ryan Rowe, Santiago Aloi and Adrian Cieslewicz will not be given new contracts, while the club remain in talks with Danny Jackman, who is also out of contract.

Whild is operating with a smaller budget than last season, but remains keen to retain much of the squad that finished seventh.

Harriers also want to keep supporters’ player of the season Lee Vaughan, who rumoured to be the subject of much interest from Football League clubs.

Whild said: “I have always believed that at the end of a season it is only right and fair to make those decisions as swiftly as possible.

“I think we have the spine and basis of a strong squad again for next season and credit has to go to a lot of people at the club who have worked hard to make that happen.

“We have also outlined some targets in terms of new faces and hopefully this will all start to come together over the coming weeks.”

Meanwhile, at the club’s end-of-season dinner last Friday, midfielder Callum Gittings was named manager and players’ player of the season as well as securing goal of the year.

Elsewhere, C&S Solicitors have agreed to continue as one of the club’s sponsors. They will have their names on the back of the shirt and sponsor the main stand.

The club have also sold just over 550 of their discounted early bird season tickets.